The Lakers have a vacancy at their head coaching position, but Steve Kerr isn’t on the list. Why? Because he’s too far along toward landing the Knicks gig (Berman, May 2).

“I think right now [Kerr’s] totally focused on the Knicks’ situation,” Lute Olson, who coached Kerr at Arizona in the 1980s and spoke to him on Tuesday, told SNY.tv and The Knicks Blog by phone, echoing comments he made to the New York Post (TKB, May 1).

Kerr and Knicks President Phil Jackson have already had several meetings and talks, according to reports.

Jackson has also interviewed Bill Cartwright as a possible assistant on the coaching staff (TKB, April 30).

Beverley actually started out on Lillard, Parsons and Bev switched before the inbound, but they never switched back after the Mo Will screen....not sure why. Gave Dame zero resistance while he ran around that double staggered screen...too easy.

Patrick Beverly is the second best perimeter defender in the league next to Tony Allen.

They have a backup center that could start for more than half of the league.

Who does the onus fall on for such an early exit? The recipe for a championship and a deep playoff run isnt as easy as you think. See Spurs, Clippers, Pacers, Thunder for example. I dont want to hear that Carmelo cant even get to the dance. These are the best players in the world playing alongside the best players in the world. Melo has JR Smith as his second option, and that didnt even show up till about 60 games into the season!

The Melo trade is part of the reason why we have nobody legitimate to play alongside Melo or picks to trade. The fact is we had to get him here. Melo has to understand that and has to see the summer of 2015 to as a chance to actually build a team around him with Phil. Fresh new start to a new Knicks dynasty hopefully with or without Melo...

I am very happy for Portland and am rooting for them to win it all. They draft an absolute star in Brandon Roy only to see him retire way too early. They draft Greg Oden instead of KD because they already had their wing scorer/playmaker in Brandon Roy. We all know how Greg Oden turned out..Needless to say they draft an absolute killer in Damien Lillard. He has played like he has been in the league for 10 years since day 1 in the NBA. Lillard has poise that you cant teach and is the coldest dude in the league. Oh and how did they get Damien Lillard? because BKN was dumb enough to trade their pick for Gerald Wallace lol!

Houston: a massive failure. Just massive. There will be coaching changes, no doubt about it.

Any way you look at it. For everyone knocking on Melo...Harden, even though he's cheaper, was getting 20+ FGA per was never a serious impact player....the lack of double teams on his constant, unproductive isolations sets say it all.

Dude's defense is beyond disgusting. Nowhere near what playoff defense should look like. Matthews, Lillard, and Batum took him to school every night.

He's Pringles' wet dream. Chucker with no consideration for the rest with no compromise on D.

For those seriously willing to compare him to Melo....please, get a grip. No chance.

Harden, Lin, and Parsons quite possible make for the worst backcourt-wing defensive unit of a serious contender (which clearly Houston isn't) in the league.

Harden, arguably, is the worst superstar 2 guard defender available, and he couldn't get the job done with an elite C on his side. You place Melo in Houston, and he would've gotten the Rockets to the 2nd round, imo. He would've destroyed Matthews, Batum, and would've taken LA to school offensively because he's just too slow to guard a SF/PF like Melo.

I'm sure many "Knick fans" will find a way to excuse Harden's play while finding ways to bash Melo and the Knicks in the way, but the reality stands: Harden's a flat out chucker who found no way to take over, lead, make an impact, or make his teammates better, and was completely shut down by Matthews.

Melo, with such a team, would've never let that happen.

Good for Portland. They deserved it. And Harden....wow....tremendously overpaid.

Wouldn't mind Portland winning it all...and that three at the buzzer for Damian..just took his confidence to another level. Sheer confidence alone can have people produce...see Lin...confidence plus good talent is what makes players great..see Lilard.

@kingofny @onewhoknix YIKES! Kid that is a great thing. This is what I have been trying to hammer home to you. Melo's game is usually ALL perimeter especially in the clutch.

Did you catch the Spurs/Mavs game where everyone was trying to take it to the rim in the clutch so they could get fouled or make an easier shot attempt? My God, I saw Vince Cater tried to take it to he hop and get fouled! VINCE CARTER, the guy I have killed for years for not doing this.

If Melo learns to tighten his game in key moments, he would be even more lethal and clutch. MJ won too many games on the foul line!

@Sandro Guedes @onewhoknixIf Melo was to leave, I would hope for a sign and trade with HOU. The fact that they got bounced in the first would give us more leverage then if they went deep in the playoffs. The 'untouchables' from the regular season can become very touchable when they get bounced early when projected contenders.

@kingofny@onewhoknix If you trade a star for younger pieces, a la rebuild, you try to collect assets. Is Parsons someone who can lead you to a title? No. Do teams that are close to a title want Parsons? Absolutely. Deron Williams was traded for some picks and Derrick Favors. DO you think Utah was thinking Derrick Favors is going to lead us to a title? No, but he is an asset.

@kingofny@onewhoknixI dont understand your logic? Dont collect young pieces because they cant win with stars? Is the only way to win now is to sign 3 stars at one time like Miami? The young pieces that HOU has are great and shouldnt be evaluated by the poor performances of they 'stars' and coach.